Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I had such fun making this card for two challenges today - the color challenge on Split Coast(thanks Jodi!) was to use Really Rust, Choc Chip, and Baja Breeze and Beverly (Beestamper) was hostess for the Tuesday Double Dare Challenge that I do with a few SCS buddies - and her challenge was to make a masculine theme card with a twig on it!

So after work I went into the back yard and picked up some small fallen branches (that are all over our yard!) and clipped these little pieces off to make a little load of firewood for the cute little pickup! I colored the truck with Really Rust reinker and my aquabrush. The tires and bumpers are colored with black and silver sparkle pens from Martha Stewart. I attached the wood with small glue dots to be sure they would stay on! The background stamping of lines, dots and snowflakes is from an old SU set called Let It Snow.

On the inside I stamped this cozy Christmas greeting from Amuse along with the roaring fire from the Happy Camper set from Stampin Up. I'll be giving this to my sister and brother-in-law for their Christmas card - as they heat their house mostly with wood during the winter, I think they will appreciate the theme of this card!

My next card was made for the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoast this past Saturday. We had all colors of rooms to choose from. I chose this green room where I was inspired by the wall color and the pretty quilt.

I used a new stamp set by Artful INKables called Butterfly Blessings for the swirly floral and the wonderful quote sentiment is from the Autumns Flowers set. I cuttled the panel with the Textile folder and framed the 'quilt' in Kiwi Kiss like the color on the walls.

If you like this set or any other sets from Artful INKables - please remember to use the code on the right column of my blog when you order and you will get 10% off!! what a deal!!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Just when I thought my making Halloween cards was kind of jumping the season - here I go making a Christmas card!

The Limited Supply challenge on Split Coast was to use Christmas themed animal stamps and we were also limited to just ribbon as an embellishment.I used this fun little kitty by Penny Black from a set appropriately enough called Christmas Critters! I used the ever lovely Basic Gray Fruitcake DP and tied a sheer dotted ribbon around the panel. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink Believe set. Of course on my first edition - I gleefully put red Stickles over the holly berries - and then realized 'oh, oh - no embellishments accept ribbon......" and had to restamp and color the image! That always happens to me with limited supply challenges - I forget the limits!

This card measures a cute 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 and will most definately be one of my cards I send out this Christmas season!

I hope you all have a super weekend! Thank you so much for stopping by today!

DH and I are going to see the new Cirque Du Soleil show - Kooza - tomorrow with my sister and brother-in-law - I'm so looking forward to it! We go everytime the show comes to Boston.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

That's one of the sentiments included in this cute new set called Critter Country from Kristin over at Artful INKables. Just look at this sweet little fox!I made this card for the weekly Sketch Challenge at Split Coast - here is the sketch

I just love how this card came out (if I do say so myself !) using this fun designer paper by Cosmo Cricket called Mr. Campy. My picture is a little dark - the problem of always having to stamp after work when it's dark out and trying to use OTT lights! It looks better IRL - so please excuse - someday I'll learn how to take better pictures - when I have a minute!!You can see all 4 of Kristin's new stamp sets here. And you can get a 10% discount on your order by using this code - save10JASo check them out and save some money!

I stamped the grasses randomly on the largest panel with Close to Cocoa Ink. Then I stamped it twice on the front panel and colored them in a little. I stamped my cute little red fox, colored him with Prismacolor markers, cut him out and layered him over the grasses.

The sentiment is cut with the key tag punch from SU and sponged. I punched the leaves and added them to the sides - then mounted the sentiment with foam dimensionals - then I just added 3 dew drops!

Both Jenn and Kristin made cards today using this same set - so be sure to go over to their blogs and check them out! Tell them Julia sent you!

And check out my post below from yesterday to see pics of all of the new Artful INKable stamp sets.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Happy Tuesday everyone! Do you want to see some beautiful and fun new stamp sets! Well - I know you do - me too! How about these?~

Kristin, owner and designer of Artful INKables has just released 4 terrific new stamp sets for the fall. The Ink Girls (Design Team!) have each been assigned certain sets each day to create projects to inspire you.

Today it's me, Terri and Kristin herself and we are showing you Butterfly Blessings. Check out the end of my post to see how you can get a 10% discount when you order!

I love this butterfly so much - I made another card using it! This card is for the weekly Double Dare Challenge I do with several Split Coast Friends. Itsapassion (Anne) was our hostess this week and she sent us a white doily and this pretty designer paper. Her challenge to us was to use these items somewhere on our card.

So look at this gorgeous butterfly stamp! Isn't it a beauty - I love how it's wings look like leaves don't you?

I sewed the DP to a sage shadow panel and attached that to the cream card. I sponged the doily with Groovy Guava. I colored the butterfly stamp with my Prismacolor markers - cut it out - added wire antennae and attached it to the sage circle with foam dimensionals. Of course I had to add extra Martha Stewart punched butterflies and silver stickles for the shimmer!Fun supplies challenge Anne!

And as an added bonus! if you use this code save10JA when you order - you will receive 10% off your order!

You can see the discount code on my side bar whenever you come visit me here! It will be good to use as long as I'm on the Artful INKables Design Team!

Here are the other fun sets now available. So check them out - and remember to use my discount code save10JA so you can save 10% on your order!!!All of Kristin's stamps are made of the highest quality, deeply etched, red rubber. Each set will come to you already trimed and mounted on ez mount cling cushion. You just have to mount to them to your clear acrylic block and stamp!

Thanks so much for sticking with this SUPER LONG posting!! I'd love to hear what you think of these new stamp sets!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Look at this lovely 'thank you' package I just received from Jenn, my fellow Artful INKables Design Team Ink Girl! On my recent vacation to the Brimfield Antique Fair - Jenn asked me to pick up some antique post cards for her which I did. And as a Thank You - she sent me all these wonderful things!

First, there is the lovely Thank You card on the right that has a very nice note inside - then there is the ornament decorated, hand made CD cover that contains a CD of a great mix of Christmas songs by many super artists! And then there is the cute little origami pocket with a sweet candy treat inside! How lucky can a girl get? Thank you so much Jenn! I was more than happy to look for those post cards for you!

If, by any chance, you don't know Jenn - you really have to check out her wonderful work here.

I made these next two cards for a friend at work who has a new 'steady' and they are in that terrific lovey dovey stage! She likes to leave him little cards and she asked me to make up a couple of them for her.

This one she wanted to be a kissing couple with a kind of lovey sentiment.

This is what I put on the inside of this one.

Stamps: First Kiss: Penny Black, Be Still my Heart: Verve Visual - Flirty Phrases, You Make me Happy: SU So Many Sayings.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

What inspires you on this table??I was inspired by the brown dishes - particularly the darker brown one. I knew the Guide Lines set by PapertreyInk would be perfect for this. I stamped the grid line and then the flower inside each block. I colored in the petals of each flower with a Prismacolor marker. I cut both circles with my nestabilities and layered them to the Swiss Dot cuttled panel with foam dimensionals. I punched the leaves (Martha Stewart) and the sentiment (Designer label -SU) and attached them to the card. I layered these pretty coordinating Prima flowers and attached a brass flower brad to hold them together. I also added some punched leaves behind them.Another fun inspiration Stef!! Be sure to check out the Inspiration Challenges every Saturday morning over on Split Coast. They really do 'inspire'!

My haunting card was made for the featured stamper challenge on Split Coast which happens every Sunday. This weeks featured stamper is E3Stamper - Shannon has lots of super cards to inspire us so be sure and check out her gallery! I chose this card to case today. I changed the stamps, did the ribbon differently and didn't use brads.

I cuttled the back panel with the Forest Branches folder. The scalloped frame is cut with nestabilities. I distressed the edges of the DP and image. The designer paper is a fun Halloween piece by Flair designs Spellbound collection. I used the designer label punch by SU for the sentiment.

Thanks so much for coming by - I hope you are all have a wonderful weekend - it has been gorgeous sunny weather here in New England!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Can you see where I flunked this Split Coast limited supplies challenge? - boy what pressure - there was a mile long list of what we could and could not use!!! I was so nervous I wouldn't adhere to all the rules!! LOL!!! Keep reading to find my fatal error!!!here is the list we had to follow:1. White/Vanilla as main color2. Second color MUST be either black, brown (any shade) or gray3. Add a third color to accent the first two colors4. Use ONLY ink that matches the cardstock colors you have chosen – no extra colors here!5. NO patterned paper or background stamps6. Stamp only ONE image, ONE time, somewhere on the white piece of cardstock.

Remember that you are LIMITED to only THREE colors – TOTAL!! No cheating by adding extra colors to a line art image that has to be colored in!

7. If you use punches or a Nestabilties-type die, please stamp the image on white or vanilla there as well, keeping your top background layer white/vanilla, too!8. Stamp a sentiment and add to your card (this step is optional) – only use it once9. Embellish as you like (ribbons, brads, Cuttlebug embossing folders)10. NO “distressing” the white cardstock – (that would be sponging!) – we want to keep these layers “clean”

My colors are Vintage Cream by PTI, Basic Black and Baja Breeze by SU. I got my idea from a catalogue I got yesterday from The Paper Source.

I used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder on the main panel after I stamped my Trees Three with Baja Breeze ink. My sentiment is from the Beauty of Christmas set by Close to My Heart and cut with my Spellbinders Double ended Tag.

Ok - did you find it???? - I just realized I flunked the challenge because - I stamped my 3 trees twice - which is in direct violation of rule # 6 above!!! Oh well............... I won't tell if you don't !!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - it is super beautiful fall weather here in New England - sunny but cool!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Today's card was made for the Ways to Use It challenge over on Split Coast - to use a silhouette stamp on your card.I used this pretty blossom from Artful Inkables Silhouette Blossoms set - stamping it with 3 inks - River Rock, Pretty in Pink and Berry Sorbet.I cuttled the designer paper using the Leafy Branch folder but I don't think you can see it in the picture. It gives it a little dimension IRL.

I also cuttled the strip of River Rock with the Swiss Dots folder. The sentiment is from the Mail Box Greetings set from PapertreyInk. I love the two different fonts on it. Inside I stamped a Happy Birthday verse. The flower panel and the sentiment oval are up on foam dimensionals.

I love the look of silhouette stamps. You usually think of silhouettes being in black but you can see how lovely they look when you use colors too!

I have two things to share with you today - First we were given this sketch over on Split Coast

And here is my card using that sketch -

I used 3 different travel themed designer paper for my panels and paper pieced the dress with one of them also. Just in case you don't know what paper piecing is - you stamp the image - then stamp it again on some designer paper - in this case I stamped the dress area - I cut out the dress from the designer paper and attached it over the image. This traveling lady is from a stamp set called Going Places by My Favorite Things.

The sentiment is cut with a Spellbinders Tag Trio, embossed and up on foam dimensionals. I added a metal filigree thingy (that I purchased last week at the Antiques Fair I went to in Brimfield, MA) and a wooden leaf button in the corners. I colored my image with Prismacolor markers and a flesh copic. This card is going postal tomorrow morning to my friend who is definately celebrating her journey!

My second offering today is this fun puzzle piece that I decorated. My brother-in-law and his wife have retired to Killington, VT and are involved with many social groups there. This month the The Killington Arts Guild is running a fun activity where they passed out these puzzle pieces for people to decorate - they measure about 20" x 20". They will display them and auction them off to make money for the Arts Guild programs. So knowing that I stamp and do other crafts - Carol asked me if I'd be interested in decorating one and I said "sure"! Of course then I had to think of something creative to do!!

So I came up with this idea of highlighting the New England States using old time post cards for each state and a couple of old time travel posters as well - one for winter and one for summer. And of course I had to use a ski one being in Killington and all! These images come from a Dover CD Rom & Book called Old Time Travel Posters and Luggage Labels. I just printed what I wanted on card stock and cut them out using photo edge scissors. I mounted them to the designer paper with foam dimensionals so they stick up a little. I used 3 fun designer papers from Cosmo Cricket called Mr. Campy to cover the puzzle piece - as well as some stickers that are also Mr. Campy. I sponged around the edges with Close to Cocoa ink.So if you are in the Killington, VT area the weekend of Sept 27 & 28th - look up this Arts Guild show and see if you can find my puzzle piece!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

This is an ATC (Artist Trading Card) for my August challenge with MissHelenStamps over on Split Coast (a little late huh?!) where Helen's challenge was to make an ATC with a beach theme. Somehow August came and went and I never made this!!It is also for the weekly Double Dare Challenge I do with some SCS friends - Michelle's (SF9erfan) challenge was to use an unloved item - something you haven't used for a long time - in this case it is my Close to My Heart stamp set - On the Beach - which I love but have only used once or twice since I got it years ago!

This is 2.5 x 3.5 size - the beach part is a stamp - stamped several times across the card - the sky part I sponged using my home made cloud template and Soft Sky ink. I stamped and cut out the sun and sandcastle - and fashioned the flag out of a red scrap and a toothpick!

I also used my word punch - another thing I've had for a long time and haven't used much. I love how the sentiment fit right inside it!

Monday, September 15, 2008

Today's card was made for the Try a New Technique challenge - Glitter Surprise. You can see the instructions for this technique here:I chose the unusual Gable Green color because the only colored glitter I had was lime sherbet and you were supposed to use similar colors for your glitter and card stock! I stamped the background with my Pine Needles and Cones stamp by Cornish Heritage farms using a Palette Stamp and Stick glue pad - you could also use a Tsukeniko Essential glue stamp pad seen here. Than I covered the panel with my glitter - tapped it off and let it dry. After it was dry I brushed over it with a soft brush as per the instructions to be sure all the loose glitter was off. (and the loose glitter is now off the card but all over me and my stamping room!)My sentiment is from the new Holidays & Wishes Stampin Up set and is cut with my petite rectangle nestabilities and attached over the sheer ribbon with foam dimensionals. I stamped the tiny holly by Amuse and punched it - colored the berries red and attached that over the sentiment with a foam dimensionals. I love how sparkly this card is - what a fun new technique! I hope you'll give it a try - it's super for Christmas and other holiday cards!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

lazy lizard (Liz) was the featured stamper over at Split Coast today - and I chose this pretty Nativity card of hers to case. When we case a card we need to change at least 2 things - I changed the stamp set and colors and used a threaded ribbon in the center panel rather than 2 panels and dots.

My Nativity is from a new set by H&M stamps you can see here: I used my snowflake cuttlebug folder for the background and a snowflake designer paper for the panel. I colored my Nativity with copic and prismacolor markers. I added a little bit of yellow stickles around Jesus's head for sparkle. Both the image and sentiment are up on foam dimensionals.

Liz lives in Texas - and apparently Ike struck her town - her house is not damaged but they did lose power - please keep everyone affected by the storm in your prayers this week!

And my parting shot is two of the ladies that participated in the class I taught at The Papertree in Manchester, NH yesterday. They are holding the canvas bags and cards we made. A big shout out to Annette and Cara! We had a fun morning together with Michelle - the owner making this pretty gift set!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

I made this card for Heather's Saturday Color and Sketch challenge that you can check out here and join in as well!I used a new set by H&M stamps called Happy Hauntings as well as the Spots and Dots Cuttlebug folder and Fiskars scallop punch. Instead of a ribbon (as in the sketch) I used a row of bats on my panel!

I'm off to teach a class at the Papertree in Manchester, NH this morning - we're going to be stamping on small canvas bags and making 4 matching cards to tuck inside. You can see the bags we're going to be doing here.

And here is a second card - Last night I was off to bed but just checked the inspiration challenge on Split Coast- and there it was! and it inspired me - and I couldn't go to bed until I made this card because I'm going to be out and about all day today and won't have time to stamp!! This link shows you the curtains that inspired me from the Pier One living room that Lori showed us.

I used a couple of new SU stamp sets on this - Eastern Blooms and Heard from the Heart. I stamped the flowers on the panel - then stamped them again on scraps, cut them out, curled the petals a little then layered them back over the image slightly askew using thick foam dimensionals.

So now I'm really off to bed (it's 1:43 am when I'm posting this!!)

I'm really so grateful that you come by and visit my blog - thanks so much!!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I used my new Baja Breeze card stock as well as my new Urban Garden Designer paper both new from Stampin Up (I just love this paper!) The floral stamp is larger than the panel so I just stamped over it and went off the edges of the panel.

The dots on the gray strips are just from punching a hole in the designer paper and sticking the circles onto the strips - keeps it flatter for mailing!

And, of course, I just had to add a butterfly with stickles on her wings! (sorry about the glare on the left wing - it looks like two bat eyes looking at you!) This was a really fun sketch to work that I'm sure I'll use again.

And my second Thanks So Much card is for two challenges - the color challenge on Split Coast to use Riding Hood Red, Going Grey and Green Galore - and the weekly Double Dare Challenge I do with some SCS friends.

Charlene (LilLuvsStampin) was hostess this week for the Double Dare and she wanted us to use color blocks on our card. I did use the colors Riding Hood Red and Going Grey - but I didn't have green galore card stock - only the ink - so I used the ink for my sentiment and added some green leaves, flowers and brads - hopefully some of it is close to Green Galore!

I used 3 cuttlebug folders on the blocks. The flowers were white (from Close to My Heart) and I pushed them into the Riding Hood Red ink pad to color them. I used glue dots and foam dimensionals on the flowers. The card is Vintage Cream by PapertreyInk.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Welcome to another Artuful Inkables Design Team Challenge! Kristin was the hostess this week and her instructions were to make a card 1) using the masking technique and 2) to do some doodling on your card. And....... this week because she is hosting she is offering a prize - Kristin writes: "Anyone who participates in the Artful INKables challenge this week will be eligible for ONE FREE Artful INKables STAMP SET OF THEIR CHOICE!! Dont be nervous though...this is NOT a talent contest! " check it out here - but remember to come back to see my card!!

I used this wonderful Top Dog stamp set for my card today. I first stamped the little guy in front - then I stamped him on a piece of Eclipse masking tape and placed it over the image. I stamped the two larger pooches over the mask. When I remove the mask it looks like the bigger dogs are behind the little dog!

I colored them in with my Prismacolor makers - outlined them with a light blue and drew a scroll doodle around the edges. I added the dew drops in three corners and the popped up sentiment in the 4th corner. I sewed the designer paper to the teal panel and attached that to the white card. I used foam dimensionals on the image panel so it's popped up off the card a bit.

To give it a little dimension - I stamped the head of one dog and the scarf of the other on white scraps - colored them in - cut them out - and layered them to the image with foam dimensionals.

We'd love to have you join in on this techniques challenge!

Make a card using the masking technique and do some doodling on it - then load your card on your SCS gallery and use the key word ARTINKso we can all check out what you create!!

If you don't have an SCS gallery then just link your card to the Artful Inkables blog in a comment here. We're excited to see what you come up with!

You can see the other Ink Girls challenge cards on their blogs below - please hop over and check them out!BethJennPam

Monday, September 8, 2008

I learned a new technique over on Split Coast Stampers today - Lynn calls it embossed shimmer! We used Lumiere (I got mine through Stampin Up) with re-inkers on a piece of acetate (like you use for an overhead) and a stipple brush (like you use for stenciling). You can read the instructions here.I was too anxious with the first try and the lumiere came off on my Cuttlebug folder!! It has to be dry to the touch before you try to emboss the acetate. Trust me on this one!! I only used one color reinker (Ruby Red) with the Lumiere (the instructions say to use 2 or more). I used the Textile Cuttlebug folder for the embossing.

The Merry Christmas image is stamped on shimmery white card stock and layered to black. It's attached to the acetate with foam dimensionals. I attached the embossed panel to a piece of shimmery white with glue dots. I wrapped the ribbon around these 2 panels, tied a knot on the front - then attached the panels to a white Bazzill card.

So now I have my first Christmas card made - only 79 or so to go!

Thanks so much for coming by today - I hope you try this fun technique yourself! You can see other samples in the Split Coast gallery.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

We just spent a week down at the Brimfield Antiques Fair in Brimfield, MA. What a great event this is if you are interested in antiques at all! This is the lovely Bed and Breakfast we stayed in - the Elias Carter HouseIt is right across the street from the fields where the fair is held so we could walk over each day! There are hundreds of vendors in tents along a 1 mile stretch of road.

And this is the wonderful twig planter I asked my DH Kent to buy for me for my birthday that fell on the last day that we were at the fair! I'll be putting 2 large chrysanthimums in this and placing it on my front lawn.And I have to share with you these beautiful birthday cards I received from my wonderful stamping friends on Split Coast.

This one with the lovely corner punches was made by Anne - (jdmommy)

And this beauty was created by Susan (One4Joy) This cute card was made by Vicki (luv2stamp2) This lovely fold card was sent to me by Lynnor (icensheba) And Anne (itsapassion) created this beauty

This lovely embossed butterfly card was sent to me by Kay (golly)

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to receive all these good wishes - to know people were thinking of me on my special day! Thank you so much ladies!

About Me

I have loved doing arts and crafts all my life. I live in Massachusetts and am very happily married to Kent who encourages my craftiness! I have one grown son, and two beautiful Russian blue cats.
I started my blog as a place to share my card stamping and paper arts - I hope it inspires you as all of your blogs inspire me!

Copyright

All content including design work, text, and photos is copyright Julia Aston. Everything here is for personal enjoyment only. Please do not use to submit for publication or contests.

FTC Declaration

In accordance with FTC 16 CFR part 255, I declare that I have, or in the past have, received products from the following companies to promote and endorse for free:Waltzingmouse StampsCreations by ARRubbernecker StampsPouch MartSweet n' Sassy StampsPSA EssentialsMark's Finest PapersH&M StampsArtful Inkable Stamps